Make France Great Again-Chapter 746 - 737 Preliminary Discussion on the Currency Union
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty!"
Standing at the doorway, Belgian Crown Prince Leopold called apprehensively into the room to Jerome Bonaparte. At this moment, he did not know why Jerome Bonaparte had dispatched Minister Valvesky to invite him over alone.
Jerome Bonaparte, who was standing with his hands behind his back, quickly turned around and carefully examined the Belgian Crown Prince in front of him, who looked much younger compared to his photos in later years.
Being scrutinized by Jerome Bonaparte made Leopold II even more uneasy. Before coming, he had heard a "rumor."
The rumor said that Emperor Jerome Bonaparte of the French Empire loved to call ambassadors from various countries individually for secret discussions to discuss political matters.
Now that Emperor Jerome Bonaparte had brought him here, was he also going to discuss political issues with him...
While Crown Prince Leopold was lost in thought, Jerome Bonaparte slowly spoke to him: "Leopold, please have a seat!" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
"Yes!" Leopold thanked Jerome Bonaparte before sitting down on a chair in the parlor.
Jerome Bonaparte also took the opportunity to sit next to Crown Prince Leopold.
Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte began chatting with Crown Prince Leopold, first inquiring about the health of the Belgian King, and then about the state of domestic affairs in the Kingdom of Belgium.
Leopold answered all of Jerome Bonaparte’s questions earnestly. As their conversation became more engaging, Jerome Bonaparte suddenly changed the topic and sternly asked Leopold: "Leopold, I’ve heard that Belgium has been secretly supporting the Orleans Clan residing in Britain and provides them with a certain amount of funding every year! Do you know anything about this?"
Just as Leopold’s unease began to subside, this revelation from Jerome Bonaparte caused his mind to go blank with fear. He had no idea how Jerome Bonaparte had discovered their funding of the Orleans Clan.
However, if he could not explain clearly, the relationship between the French Empire and the Kingdom of Belgium might plummet.
The Kingdom of Belgium’s stable existence owes much to the help of the Kingdom of Britain and France.
If either of these two countries harbored animosity towards them, significant turmoil could arise within the Kingdom of Belgium.
From its inception, the Belgian Government scarcely lacked parties close to France (mainly due to a larger French-speaking population, naturally inclined towards France).
Not to mention, the prestige of the French Empire now far surpassed that of the Orleans Kingdom’s period.
This also led some originally neutral politicians to gradually move towards pro-French alignment.
"Your Majesty, from whom did you hear this!" Leopold restrained his inner fear and attempted to respond to Jerome Bonaparte as calmly as possible.
"Leopold, you don’t need to concern yourself with whom I heard it from!" Jerome Bonaparte replied bluntly to Leopold: "I just want to ask, is this matter true or false!"
What should I do?
Leopold roared inwardly. He did not know how much insider information Jerome Bonaparte possessed or whether he should be honest with him.
"Mr. Leopold!" Jerome Bonaparte decided to exert maximum pressure on him, questioning word by word: "I’m asking you, is this matter true or false?"
"Your Majesty, this matter..." Leopold took a deep breath, calmed his chaotic thoughts, and then said: "This matter indeed exists!"
Before Jerome Bonaparte had the chance to speak again, Leopold quickly explained: "However, we have not given them excessive money!"
"What exactly does ’not too much’ mean?" Jerome Bonaparte asked again, determined to get to the bottom of this.
"We provide the Orleans Clan with 100,000 francs annually!" Leopold replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "Initially, this money was provided by my mother!"
"I recall Queen Louise has already..." Jerome Bonaparte trailed off.
A look of sadness appeared on Leopold II’s face. "Although my mother has passed away, this funding has not ceased."
"I see!" Jerome Bonaparte’s tone softened slightly, then he smiled at Crown Prince Leopold and said: "Leopold, thank you for your honesty!"
"Your Majesty, I will inform my father to stop the funding of the Orleans Clan as soon as I return to Belgium!" Leopold II hurriedly expressed his stance to Jerome Bonaparte.
Even though the Belgian Government was indeed established with the help of the Orleans Clan, and the Belgian Queen was from the Orleans Clan, the bonds between royal families must yield to national interests.
The debt of gratitude owed to them by the Orleans Clan paled in comparison to the favor or disfavor from the French Empire.
Moreover, their mother, who maintained their relationship with the Orleans Clan, passed away in 1850.
"Stop funding? No, there’s no need!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and said to Leopold II, "You can continue to fund them!!"
Hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s words, Leopold was momentarily at a loss. He was completely confused about what Jerome Bonaparte actually wanted to achieve.
Could it be that he simply wanted to use this matter to pressure us? Leopold thought to himself.
"Right, you can also deliver a message to the Orleans Clan for me!" Jerome Bonaparte continued, speaking to the absent-minded Leopold.
"Your Majesty, please go ahead!" Reacting quickly, Leopold addressed Jerome Bonaparte.
"Relay this to them for me!" Jerome Bonaparte said unhurriedly to Leopold II, "If they are willing to publicly renounce their claim to France, then I can on behalf of the government provide them with an annual compensation of 500,000 francs!"
Jerome Bonaparte personally did not believe the Orleans Clan would publicly renounce their claim to the French throne for an annual 500,000 francs.
After all, the Orleans Clan once agreed to vote for the execution of a king (Louis XVI) for this throne, and later drove out another king (Charles X).
It can be said that each member of the Orleans Clan carries an inherent enmity towards the legitimate Bourbons.
If they were to renounce it now, it would mean that the efforts of two, even three generations of the Orleans Clan would instantly become a bubble.
The entire Orléans Faction would also suffer a devastating blow due to Orléans renouncing their claim to the throne.
However, Jerome Bonaparte simply wanted to irritate the Orleans Clan.
Back when the Orleans Clan was in power, they never missed a chance to irritate the Bonaparte Clan.
As soon as Jerome Bonaparte finished speaking, Leopold II immediately responded to Jerome Bonaparte: "Your Majesty, I will relay your message to the Orleans Clan!"
"That’s good!" Jerome Bonaparte displayed a satisfied smile on his face, reveling in the sense of achievement from compelling the prince of another country to work for him.
Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte continued to enthusiastically discuss his dream of a United States of Europa with Leopold.
Leopold II transformed into a dedicated listener, lavishing praise on Jerome Bonaparte’s concept of the United States of Europa.
"Your Majesty, I believe that sooner or later the European Monarchies will unite to form a large alliance..." Leopold II stated to Jerome Bonaparte.
"I am truly gratified that you think this way!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Leopold II in a condescending tone, "Therefore, I believe we should do something for this envisioned alliance!"
Upon hearing this, Leopold’s expression grew somewhat uneasy. He originally thought Jerome Bonaparte was just boasting, but who would have thought Jerome Bonaparte was preparing to act.
"Your Majesty, where do you plan to start?" Leopold inquired of Jerome Bonaparte.
"Leopold, don’t you believe the multitude of currencies throughout Europe complicate circulation and trade?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Leopold II in a compassionate tone.
"Indeed it is so!" Leopold II nodded in agreement with Jerome Bonaparte.
"Therefore, I wish to unite all countries in establishing a new currency, one that will circulate among nations to stabilize their currencies and trade!" Jerome Bonaparte revealed his ambition to Leopold II, intending to establish a prototype of the euro in 19th-century Europe.
Sitting beside Jerome Bonaparte, Leopold II was also intrigued after hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s remarks.
Although the Kingdom of Belgium was the first country to industrialize, its market and population severely limited its potential.
To overcome this limit, the Kingdom of Belgium tried every possible way.
During the Orleans Kingdom era, they were the closest. At that time, Foreign Minister Guizot (Grand Marshal Surt did not interfere in affairs, leaving foreign and domestic affairs mostly to Guizot) proposed to emulate the German Customs Union by establishing a customs union between France and Belgium.
This proposal immediately received strong support from Belgian industry and commerce, because if the Franco-Belgian Tariff Union were implemented, they could achieve mutual complementarity with France through this union, thereby raising their potential.
However, Palmerston, the then Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Britain, firmly opposed the Franco-Belgian Tariff Union, and the Foreign Minister appointed by Louis Philippe, Guizot, was unlike the tough-minded Thiers; he was a minister who advocated compromise with England, which led to the Franco-Belgian Tariff Union dying in its infancy.
Now, the Currency Union proposed by Jerome Bonaparte, although far less than a customs union, could still bring benefits to the Kingdom of Belgium.
